Fifth wheel operating device



S. B. WINN FIFTH WHEEL OPERATING DEVICE Aug. 15, 1950 C o d e l 1 F 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 15,1950 5. B. WINN FIFTH WHEEL OPERATING DEVICE 2 Shegts-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1946 INVENTOR. W

Patented Aug. 15, 1950 zsiaoio ,UNITED STATES FAYENT OFF] CE FIFTH WHEEL QPEBA'riNG DEVICE Sidney B. Winn, Lape'er, Mich.

.Awlieatien October 21, 1946; mid! No. some!) 13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to tractor trailer vehicles-and in particular to coupling devices .or filth wheel mechanism-s tor such vehicles,

One object or this invention is o p vi e a cou ling device for tractor trailer vehicles having couplin laws which are releasable for un coupling the vehicles by mechanism operable from either side .of the tractor.

Another object is to provide a coupling device for tractor-trailer vehicles, as set forth in the precedin object, wherein the device is oeerated by a double-ended lever connected thereto near its mid cortion and having handle portions 50m- .i'ecting from opposite sides oi the tractor so that an operator can operate the device with ease and fre m from dang r of accident re ardless of whic sid of the tractor he is facing.

Another object is to provide a safety couplin device for tractor-trailer vehicles, as set forth in the preceding bject, wherein the coupling device is automatically set .for recoupling when the the tractor and trailer are intentionally separated; this rewoupling automatically taking place when the tractor and trailer are again moved into draft engagement with one another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a safety coupling device for tractor-trailer yehioles having mechanism controlled by the coupl n device for preventing t e separation of the tractor and trailer upon failure of the couplin d vic the coupling device itself being operable fr m either side or the tractor.

Othe objects and advantages will become apparent durin the course of the following description of he accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view ci a tractor-trailer coupling according to a preferred term of the invention;

Fi ure 2 is a long tudinal vertical section taken along the line Z -2 in Figure :1;

Figure B s a leftmand end elevation of the tractor-trailer coupling devicechown in Figure 5;

Figur 4. s a ver ical cross-section through the trac or trailer coupling device taken along the line 414 in Figure 2; I

Figure 5 is a top plan View similar to the cenral portion of Figure l, but showin the coupl ns jaw locking bolt in its retracted osition to enable separation of the tractor -trailer combination;

Figure 6 is a top plan view similar to Figure 5, but howing th co pling jaws separated to ree ve the king pin of the trailer, with the couplmg jaw locking bolt retracted in response to the engagement of the king pin with a tripping member; and

Figure -7 an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the detent or latch tor the operating lever in Figure 5, showing the interlocking 'detent portions thereof, with the operating lever in crosssection; and l Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of "the central portion of a tractor-trailer coupling device lacking thetaux-iliary safety jaw, with the parts in the positions corresponding to those of Figure 5 ready for uncoupling to take place.

Referring-to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a frame 10 mounted on and forming part of the chassis of a tractor vehicle (not shown) of any conventional design whose details form no part of the present invention. The frame In is bolted or otherwise secured to the tractor chassis in any suitable manner (not shown),

Mounted on and rising from the frame 18' is .a trunnion support it (Figure 2) having flanged portions I4 bolted as at 15 to the frame Ill. The trunnion, support 93 is provided-with a, pair of spaced triangular web portions 16 interconnected by a base portion H and provided with bearing bosses 58 (Figure l). Trunniened between the web portions .IB is a turntable 19 having bearing bosses 20 thereon provided with aligned openings 21' adapted to register, with bores 22 in the bearing bosses l8 so as to receive pivot bolts 23 which serve as trunnions. A block 24 of rubber or rubber-like material is interposed between each pivot pin 23 and the opening 2-] to cushion the shocksarising during operation.

The turntable I9 is provided with a pair of tail portions 25 in the form of inclined ramps. The turntable i9 is also provided with edge flanges 21 and 28 on the underside thereof connected by a web 29 interconnecting the tail portions 26 (Figure 2). The tail portions 26 are provided with marginal edge flanges an converging as at 3! (Figure 1') these terminating at their inner ends in a U-shaped kingpin receiving slot 32 extending to the center of the turntable 19. The slot 32 is provided with a marginal depending flange 33 to reinforce the slot 32 and turntable l9 generally. a r v The turntable I9 is provided on its underside with a pair of depending bosses 34 (Figure 4) carrying pivot bolts 35 upon which are pivotally mounted coupling elements consisting of a; pair of coupling jaws 35. The turntable i9 is also provided with a stirrup 31 extending beneath the bosses 34 and coupling jaws 35 and having portions 38 with openings through which the pivot bolts 35 pass. This arrangement provides support for the pivot bolts 36 both above andbelow the cou lin Je The coupling jaws are provided at their forward ends with projections 39 behind which are semi-circular bores which cooperate with rear jaw projections 4| to provide a circular bore 40 for receiving the king pin of the trailer. The rear portion of each coupling jaw 35 is provided with an L-shaped notch 42 (Figures 1, 5 and 6).

Extending downward from the underside of the turntable 19 to the rear of the coupling jaws 35 is a boss 43 threaded to receive a guide bolt 44 upon which is slidably mounted a locking bolt 45 (Figure 2) The guide bolt 44 carries a washer 46 and passes through a slot 41 in the locking bolt 45 before it enters the threaded boss 43. The forward end of the locking bolt 45 is substantially rectangular so as to slide into the rectangular keeper formed by the notches 42 when the coupling jaws 35 are in their closed positions, (Figure l) The locking bolt 45 at its rear end is provided with a guide rod 48 which extends through an opening 49 in the depending guide flange 2'! of the turntable l9 so as to guide the locking bolt 45 in its reciprocation. A coil spring 50 is mounted on the guide rod 43 (Figure 2) with its forward end engaging the bolt 45 and its rear end abutting the flange 21 so as to normally urge the bolt 45 forward into the notches 42 into its clamping jaw locking position.

The foregoing mechanism is described and claimed in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 531,701 filed April 19, 1944 for a Safety Jaw for Fifth Wheel Assembly which matured into Patent No. 2,411,404, issued November 19,

1946. The present invention described below is an improvement upon my previous invention in that it enables operation of this mechanism from either side of the tractor vehicle.

Depending from the underside of the turtable I 9 (Figure 3) is an internally threaded boss 5! having a pivot stud 52 threaded therein and passing through an opening 53 in an operating lever 54, the opening 53 being considerably larger than the diameter of the stud 52 as is clearly seen in Figure 3. The pivot stud 52 is provided with a coil spring 55, mounted between washers 55 and held in position by a nut 5'! threaded onto the stud 52. Thus, the coil spring yieldingly urges the central portion of the operating lever 54 upward toward the boss 5|, so that the operating lever 54 loosely and slidably engages the stud 52.. The operating lever 54, however, is provided with handle portions 58 and 59projecting from opposite sides of the turntable l9 so as to enable the operating lever 54 to be operated from either side of the tractor. In order to releasably lock the operating lever 54 in one position, the edge flange 21 of the turntable I9 is provided with a downwardly opening notch 60 (Figures 1 and 3) for receiving the operating lever 54, the notch 58 on its outer side being bounded by a lug 6i (Figure 3) extending downward from the edge flange 21.

Between the pivot stud 52 and the notch 60, the operating lever 54 passes through an opening 62 in the locking bolt 45, the opening 52 at its rear end terminating in an arcuate abutment portion 53 (Figure 1) On the opposite side of the operating lever 54 from its connection with the locking bolt 45, the lever 54 is provided with an opening 64 in which is mounted the pin 65 passing through the upper and lower openings 65 and 51 and a washer 68 of a clevis 69 (Figure 3). The clevis 69 is engaged by a coil spring 18 (Figure 1) encircling the control rod H which is reciprocably mounted in openings 1 la of re-inforc- 4 ing ribs I2 formed on the lower side of the turntable [9. The forward end of the coil spring 18 abuts one of the ribs I2. The opposite end of the control rod H is connected to a clevis 13 which is pivoted to the tail portion 14 of an auxiliary locking jaw 15 which in turn is pivoted to the underside of the turntable 59 by means of a pivot pin 15 mounted in a bracket 11 bolted to the lower side of the turntable I9. A pivot pin 1'8 interconnects the clevis l3 and tail portion -14 so that reciprocation of the control rod ll will swing the auxiliary jaw 15 to and fro into and out of the king pin slot 32 around the pivot pin it. The coil spring 10 normally urges the auxiliary jaw 15 into the slot 32 (Figure 1) and holds the operating lever 54 in its normal position, aided by the coil spring 50.

Cooperating with the foregoing tractor vehicle coupling construction is a trailer chassis Bl] having side rails 8| of channel cross-section inter.- connected at its front end by a transverse frame member 82. Secured as by welding to the front end of the chassis is a turntable engaging plate 53 extending across the underside thereof. The turntable engaging plate 83 has a relatively smooth bottom surface 84 for engaging the turntable 19 and is provided with an upturned forward edge portion 85 to facilitate engagement with the inclined tail portions '25 during the coupling operation. Mounted in the turntable engaging plate 83 (Figure 2) is a king pin 86 having its threaded end 8'! extending through an opening 88 therein and held in position by a nut 89 threaded upon the threaded portion 81 so as to anchor the king pin 85 in position. The king pin 86 is provided with upper and lower flanges or heads 90 and 9| with a neck portion 82 therebetween, the head 90 fitting into and slidably engaging the side walls of the king pin notch 32 and the neck portion 92 being engaged by the portions 48 of the coupling jaws 35. The lower head 9! prevents the coupling jaws 35 from sliding off the king pin 86.

Operation In the operation of the tractor-trailer coupling device of this invention, let it 'be assumed that the tractor and trailer are coupled in draft relationship (Figure 1) with the portions 48 of the coupling jaws 35 engaging the neck portion 92 of the king pin 85. Since the coupling jaws 35 are in their closed positions, the locking bolt 45 is urged forward into the locking notches 42 by the coil spring 58 so as to prevent the opening of the coupling jaws 35 (Figure 1). With the parts in this position, the coil spring 18 urges the clevis 69, operating lever 54 and control rod H rearward so as to swing the tail portion '14 of the auxiliary jaw 15 toward the rear and project the auxiliary jaw 15 into the slot 32. In this position, the auxiliary jaw 15 partially closes the king pin slot 32 to a suflicient extent to obstruct the passageway therein so as to prevent the king pin 86 from passing outward through the slot 32. Thus, should the coupling jaws 35 fail to hold the king pin 86, the latter although escaping from the coupling jaws 45, would immediately be intercepted by the auxiliary locking jaws 75 and prevented from passing out of the slot 32 (Figure 1).

To uncouple the vehicles, the operator grasps either of the handles 58 or 59 and swings the operating lever 54 counterclockwise around its pivot stud 52 hooking the portion adjacent the lug 8| up into the notch 60 (Figures 5 and '7) hicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within its slot, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said structure and extending transversely thereacross, said lever having operating handle portions projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatlvely connecting said operating lever to said coupling element, and a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said operating lever.

2. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within its slot, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said structure and extending transversely thereacross, said lever having operating handle portions projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said operating lever to said coupling element, a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said operating lever, and a resilient member yieldably urging said operating lever into holding engagement with said detent.

3. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within its slot, an operating 'member movably mounted on said structure and having operating 3 portions extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said operating member to said coupling element, a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said operating member, a'first resilient member yieldably urging said operating member into holding engagement with said detent, and a second resilient member yieldably urging said operating member transversely out of its path of engagement with said detent.

A coupling device for a tractor-trailevehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its 2 ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, and mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt.

5. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, and a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said lever in the unlocked position of said coupling element.

6. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said lever in the unlocked position of said coupling element, and a resilient member yieldably urging said operating lever into holding engagement with said detent.

7. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said lever in the unlocked position of said coupling element, a first resilient member yieldably urging said operating lever into holding engagement with said detent, and a second resilient element yieldably urging said operating lever transversely out Of its path of engagement with said detent.

8. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said lever in the unlocked position of said coupling element, and a resilient member yieldably urging said operating lever into holding engagement with said detent, said lever being loosely and slidably mounted on said pivot.

9. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, 3 locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accrsible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said lever in the unlocked position of said coupling element, a first resilient member yieldably urging said operating lever into holding engagement with said detent,

' ment with said coupling element,

said lever being loosely and slidably mounted on said pivot, an abutment adjacent said pivot, and a second resilient element urging said lever axially along said pivot into engagement with said abutment and rocking said lever out of its path of engagement with said detent around said abutment as a fulcrum.

10. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, and a resilient element normally urging said bolt into locking engagement with said coupling element.

11. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagea pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said lever in the unlocked position of said coupling element, and a resilient element normally urging said bolt into locking engagement with said coupling element and urging said lever into holding engagement with said detent.

12. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on 1 said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure. mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, adetent on said structure releasably engageable with said lever in the unlocked position of said coupling element, a first resilient element normally urging said bolt into locking engagement with said coupling element and urging said lever into holding engagement with said detent, and a second resilient element yieldably urging said operating lever transversely out of its path of engagement with said detent.

13. A coupling device for a tractor-trailer vehicle having a king pin on one vehicle and a cooperating slotted supporting structure on the other vehicle, comprising a coupling element mounted on said structure and movable to and fro Within said slot, a locking bolt mounted on said structure and movable into locking engagement with said coupling element, a pivot mounted on said structure, an operating lever having its intermediate portion mounted on said pivot with its ends extending toward and accessible from opposite sides of said structure, mechanism operatively connecting said lever to said locking bolt, a detent on said structure releasably engageable with said lever in the unlocked position of said coupling element, a first resilient element normally urging said bolt into locking engagement with said coupling element and urging said lever into holding engagement with said detent, an abutment adjacent said pivot, and a second resilient element urging said lever axially along said pivot into engagement with said abutment and rocking said lever out of its path of engagement with said detent around said abutment as a fulcrum.

SIDNEY B. WINN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,981,233 Harris Nov. 20, 1934 2,044,227 Robb June 16, 1936 2,077,484 King Apr. 20, 1937 2,348,977 Ketel May 16, 1944 2,372,976 Norman et a1. Apr. 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 421,210 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1934 

